This house on the 1100 block of Sigma in Walled Lake, was the scene of a deadly shoot Tuesday night. Wednesday, December 18, 2013. Tim Thompson-The Oakland Press

WALLED LAKE >> Walled Lake resident Chris Haney is passionately opposed to the mistreatment of animals, but there’s no way he would take someone’s life over an animal, he said.

Minutes before Haney’s neighbor was shot to death Tuesday night following a dispute over a runaway beagle, Haney, 45, and his parents were watching television.

They were among many who heard at least seven shots coming from two doors down in the 1100 block of Sigma Road, south of West Maple and east of Pontiac Trail.

The victim, 45-year-old Edwin Criswell, confronted another neighbor, a 28-year-old man, about the man’s dog getting loose in his yard.

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The man opened fire, police said. Criswell died from gunshot wounds to his thigh, said Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office investigators. Police have not released the suspect’s name.

Haney, who was on the phone with dispatchers during the police response, said the shooting was “stupid ... senseless.”

“For someone to take another life over a dog is just egregious and gives people who own guns as tools a bad name,” Haney said.

Haney and his mother, Judith, called 911 when they heard three rapid, deafening shots.

“It seemed like whoever it was knew what they were doing ... they were really fast shots in a row,” Haney, a Walled Lake Schools soccer coach, said. “I got a better view and told the dispatcher what I saw.”

After a few seconds and more gunshots, Haney said he heard the strained, muffled yells from Criswell coming from 1170 Sigma Road. Haney said he could see the suspect pacing in front of Criswell’s home. When police tactical teams arrived minutes later, the 28-year-old laid on the ground in surrender.

On Wednesday morning, homeowner Vicki Adams showed reporters a photo of Criswell as a dog barked inside her home, but would not comment further on the tragic incident.

The suspect, who is a former U.S. Marine, is in custody awaiting potential homicide charges.

Walled Lake police said initial investigations revealed the suspect, who is said to live five houses down from the Criswell, allegedly was outside looking for his own dog when he arrived at his neighbor’s door. A conflict reportedly turned violent when shots were fired. Criswell died on his doorstep a short time later after several more shots were fired.

Walled Lake Police Deputy Chief Bruce Kirby said several complaints about the suspect’s dogs had come from the neighborhood in the past.

Investigators were working Wednesday to present a case to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, and hoped to arraign the suspect sometime Thursday.

About the Author

John Turk covers the police beat and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for The Oakland Press. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Reach the author at john.turk@oakpress.com
or follow John on Twitter: @jrturk.